Folding umbrella



C. R. GEISEL FOLDING UMBRELLA Feb. 19, 1935.

Filed May 16, 1955 Patented Feb. 19, 1935 Y half to Eugene Carl R. Geisel, `Windsor, Conn., assgnor of one- A.' La Brie, Hartford, Conn.

Application yMay 1G, maaserial No. 671,336 150mm. (o1.V 13s-725) .Y ,My invention relates to folding 'umbrellasand more particularly to Vthat class of umbrellas Which can be collapsed into a Vsmall and com'- pact'form which will fit yinto a small compart.

mentsuch asin a ladys handbag, atraveling bag he object Vof my invention is primarily to providean umbrella of the character described which isv simple in its operation.L

. A further object is to provide such an umbrella which is durable Vandso constructed that it is strongly braced whenrin its open position.

- An improved umbrella comprising my invention and by which the objects above set out may be attained, is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which: l

Figure 1 is a View ofthe umbrella as it appears in its openvposition, but showing only, two of the oppositely disposed ribs v"for the purpose Aof sim# plifying the illustration. Figure 2 is a view showi gthesame in a partly closed position. L 1

Figure 3 is an enlargedview showingthe umbrella completely collapsed; 'the rbottom' portion oi the stai and handle being shown in central vertical section. l Y

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showingthe position of the umbrellaat thestart of the opening operation; the lower portion'of the umbrella only being shown.

Eigure5 is. aurther enlarged view in central vertical section on aline between the ribs, with some of the parts broken away; Ythe st a being shown in collapsed position while the umbrella vis in its .open position. f Y Y Y y l A rEigure 6-is a. detailview showing the construction of the staff sections..

Referring to the drawing in which like reference numerals denotecorresponding parts in the different views, thenumeral 5 indicates astaf and 6 aV handle secured to the end thereof. I The said staff is composed of telescoping sections7,

l 8 and 9. Each of the sections 7 and 8 is reduced at"the bottom thereof ltovform tapered Walls ,10. The upper ends of the sectionsS-and 9 are provided with expanding' tapered walls 1l which, whenv the staff is extended,.will engage the tapered Walls 10A and thus form a frictional lock to retainsaid sections securely in the extended position.' Q In' order to provide a more secure engagement between the sections, I provide bushings 12.whi'ch are rigidly secured to theupper .ends ofthe sections 8 and 9, and which form the tapered walls 11 above described.v`lr Y v A collar 2O is slidably mounted on the sadex-` ytop section of the staff 5, and "nasa camming flange 18 and a tubularl extension-19 extending above the said flange. y f

tension 19 and the said extension is flaredoutwardlyfat 'the topthereof, as Yat 21, to limit the sliding movement of said collar thereon. The handle is threaded tothe section 9 of the staff as Vat 22, and is provided with a recess 23 to receive the runner 17 when the umbrella is Aco1- lapsed as clearly shown in Figure 3." Y

A cap 24 is threaded to the extension 16 of the collar 13, and is providedwith recesses 25 in the 25 top thereof to receive a wrench for .turningthe same. ,l l v f A spring lockingpin 26 is securedto. the said cap 24. The said pin is provided with k a head 27 contractior'rof the said head. A locking groove 29 is formed atI the inside vof Vthe section 91tobe engaged bythe Ysaid locking Apin head 27 when the staff4 of the umbrella is collapsed as illustrated inFigure `5.v Y j- .Y -f Collapsible ribs 30 lare provided. Theseribs are constructed in aform commonly known as lazy tongs, and comprisea lseriesof one or more tong sections which are pivoted 'together at their ends. Y YAs illustrated vin ,the drawing,A I have shown each oflthese ribs having two tong sections. The first Aof said sections comprising a link 31 which is pivoted `to thecollar 2() and has an offset pore tion 32fformed` to vsupport the cover 33 of the 45 umbrella when the said umbrellais in its-open Cil of the link 36, and to the link 39 as at 41. 'Iips 42, such as commonly used on umbrellas are provided at the ends of the links 39 to which is attached the umbrella cover 33 by means of sew ing the 'said cover thru openings in the said tips.

The pivots 43, connecting the link sections adjacent the umbrella cover, are tubular in construction to provide openings 44 thru which is sewed the cover 33. v

The links 40 are provided With cam extensions 45.

When the ribs are extended to the open position as shown in Figure 1, the extensions 45 enengaging gage the links 37 of the adjacent tong sections,

thus preventing further closing of saidtong sections and retaining the relation of the rib sections in a position which will render a strong-Y ly braced rib.

In order to secure the umbrella cover 33 at the center thereof, I provide a ring- 46 to which the said cover is Vsewed.l Y The said ring fits over and surrounds' the extension 16 of the collar 13. washer 47, preferably of leather, is provided over the said ring and pressed firmly in engagement thereon by the cap L24 which is threaded to said extension. l

To'retain my improved umbrella in its open position, I provide a hook 48 whichv is pivoted on the collar 20 and located between two of the ribs 30. The Vsaid hook is provided with a cam tail 49 which projects thru an opening 50 in the camming flange 18. A spring 51 is provided to force the said hook into engagement with the locking groove 15 when the umbrella is in its open position.

In order to minimize the friction between the various links at their lpivotal connections, I provide spacing washers 52 at each point where the links are pivoted together.

- 'Ihe operation of my improved umbrella is as follows: H j

When it is desired to open the said umbrella from its collapsed position illustrated in Figure 3,' the handle 6 is pulled downwardly'extending the staff to theposition shown Figure 1. The runner 17 is thenV pushed upwardly causing the cam 18 to engage the cam engaging extensions 45 on the ribs and force them outwardly thus starting the opening operation of the umbrella as clearly illustrated in Figure 4.

Raising the said runner will also disengagethe tailV 49 ofthe hookr48 permitting the said hook to -be moved forward by the action of the spring 51. A continuation of the operation of raising said runner 17 will open the umbrella thruthe position shown in Figure 2 to the completely open position shown in Figure 1. When the umbrella is yabout to reach its completely open position, the YVhook 48 will engage the locking groove 15, in the collar 13, and thus retain the umbrella in the said openV position. Thus, the extending of theV staff 5 and the raising of the runner 17 thereon, may be performed in one single manual op.- eration which will resultinopening the umbrella from its entirely collapsed position shown Vin Figure 3, to its entirely opened position shown in Figure 1.

In closing the said umbrella from the position shown in Figure 1, vthe same is held by the handle 6 in one hand and the runner 17 is graspedin the other. The said runneris pulled downwardly, lowering the ycaml and forcing the tail 49 of the hook 48finwardly, releasing the hook from` its lengaf-enirerit With the locking groove 15. Continuing thev lowering of the said runner will close the umbrella back thru the position shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 3. The operation of collapsing the staff being completed by forcing upwardly on the handle 6 after the ribs have been collapsed.

While I have shownV and described an umbrella by which the above objects are attained, it is to be understood that the construction of the same may be changed toa `greater ,o rjlesser extentlwithout departing from the scope of my invention as set out in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a folding umbrella having a staff, a stationary collar, and a sliding collar on said staff, al plurality of collapsible ribs each comprising links pivoted together to form a rib of lazy tong construction, each of said ribs having one side thereof pivotally connected to said stationary collar and the other side thereof pivotally connected to said sliding collar, andoifs'et portions in said links conforming with the'fshape of, and adapted to support, said cover.

2. In a folding umbrella having a staff, and a stationary collar on said staff, av runner slidably mounted on said staff, a slidable collar on said runner, and a plurality of ribs of lazy tong con-A struction being pivotally connected to said Ystationary collar and to said slidable collar.

3. In a folding umbrella lhaving a` staff, a stationary collar on said staff, a runner slidably mounted on said staff, a collar slidablymounted on said runner, anda plurality of ribs of lazy tong Vconstruction each being pivotally mounted to said stationary collar by one side thereof and by the other side thereof pivotally mounted to the collar on said runner.

4. In a folding umbrella having a vslidably mounted collar and a plurality of ribs of lazy tong construction; means on said ribs vfor limiting the opening movement thereof.

5. In alfoldin'g umbrella having a top, a telescoping stair and a collar secured to said staff and'stationary thereon; a runner slidablymounted on said staff having a camthereon anda collar slidablyfmounted on said runner, a plurality of lazy tongs comprising opening and closing ribs pivoted at one side thereof to said stationary collar, `and at the other side thereof to the collar on said runner, cam engaging projectionson said lazy tongs adapted to rest in operative relation with-said cam, wlienthe said lazytongs are closed, to bemoved by said cam for starting the opening operation offsaid ribs.

6. In a folding umbrella having a staff Aand 'a stationary collar having ,lockin'gmeans therein mountedon said staff, a runner slidably mounted on said staff, a collar slidably mounted on said runner, a plurality of 'opening and closingribs having one side' thereof pivoted to said'sta'tionary collar and `theotherside thereof pivoted to said collar for opening and closing operation thereby, and releasable means mounted on said collar and adapted to engage said'locking means to retain said umbrella in its open position.`

'7,7 In afolding umbrella havinga staff, a plurality of ribs pivoted thereon, and locking means in said staff, a runner slidably mounted on said staff, a collar slidably mounted'on said runner and connected'to said ribs for opening and closing the same, and a hook on said collar adaptedto engage said locking means to 'retain the. said umbrellain its open position. j

8. Ina folding umbrellaliaving astafl Withj'a vlocking detent therein, a pluralityof ribs pivoted on said staff and a runner slidablyfniunt'd on runner and pivotally connected with said ribs to open and close the same, a hook pivoted on said collar, a spring adapted to cause said hook to engage'the said locking'V detent to retain the umbrella in its open position, and a cam on said hook adapted to be operated by the said runnei' to release said hook from the locking detent.

9. Ina folding umbrella having a staff comprising a plurality of telescoping tubular sections `and a cap mounted to the top end sectionof said staff; a spring locking means in said cap adapted to engage the bottom end section when the said staffis closed to retain the said sections in the closed position. k

10. In a folding umbrella having a collapsible staff comprising a plurality of tubular sections telescoped one within the other, an inwardy tapered portion in the Wall at one end of each of said sections, and Y a friction locking sleeve, secured Vto the section telescoping Within the same, to engage said inwardly taperedwallfor retaining the said staff in its open position.

11. In a folding umbrella having a staff and a stationary collar mounted on `said staff,r a grip portion on said runner, a collar slidably mounted on said runner above said grip portion, a runner slidably mounted on said staff, a plurality of collapsible ribs pivoted to said stationarycollar and to said slidably mounted collar and a handle secured to said staff, the said handle and grip portion only of said runner adapted totelescope one Within the other.

12. In a folding umbrella having a collapsible staff having means for retaining the same in vopen position and means for retaining itin closed position, a stationary collar secured to said staff and having a downwardly extending portion with a locking groove therein, and a runner slidably mounted on said staff, a collar slidably mounted on said runner, a hook pivoted on said slidable collar and adapted to engage said locking groove V .to retainV said umbrella in its open position, a .flange on said runner Vforming a starting cam locking groove, said stationary collar having a recess in the downwardlyk extending portion thereof into which is received a portion of said runner, and a plurality of opening and closing ribs of lazy tong construction pivoted to the stationary collar on said staff and to the sliding collar on said runner, and adapted to be partially opened by the said starting cam.

13. In a device of the character described `having a staff, a stationary collar on said staff and a runner slidably mounted on said staff, a slidable collar on said runner, and a plurality of ribs pivotally connected to said collar.

14. In a device of the character described having a staff, a collar secured to said staff, and a Y runner slidably mounted on said staff,.a cam on saidrunner, a collarrslidably mounted on said runner, a'plurality of opening and closing ribs said ribs adapted to be engaged by said cam for startingv the opening movement of said ribs. 15. In a devicevof the character described, a

collapsible staiv comprising a plurality of tu- 7 -bular telescoping sections, an inwardly tapered portion in the Wall of each of said sectionsr and a tapered friction locking sleeve, of a material diierent than that of said sections, secured to. the section telescoping within another of said sections `to engage said inwardly tapered Wall for retaining the said staff in its open position.

CARL R. GEISEL. 

